SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -Mark Grieb threw eight touchdown passes, five of them to Cleannord Saintil, and the San Jose Sabercats advanced to Arena Bowl XXII with an 81-55 win over Grand Rapids on Saturday.
Omarr Smith intercepted a team playoff-record three passes that led to touchdowns and the defending champion Sabercats (11-5, 2-0) advanced to play in the Arena Bowl against first-time participant Philadelphia Soul, who beat the Cleveland Gladiators 70-35 earlier in the day. The game will take place in two weeks at New Orleans.
Grieb's eight scoring tosses gives him 104 career playoff touchdowns. Saintil caught 11 passes for 113 yards.
Grieb, who led the league with 100 touchdown passes, threw for 249 yards on 24-of-30 passing. Jason Geathers caught two TD passes, ran for another and returned an interception for a score on the game's final play. Gene Frederic also caught a TD pass.
Jam MacPherson threw four touchdowns passes and ran for two as the Rampage (6-10, 2-1) saw their five-game winning streak end after a remarkable playoff performance in which they knocked two opponents on the road before losing in San Jose for the seventh time in as many trips.
MacPherson was 30-of-50 for 314 yards and five interceptions.
Kenny Higgins caught a pair of touchdowns and ran for one, Jason Shelley and Cole Magner each caught one and Chris Martin returned a kickoff 57 yards for a score for Grand Rapids, which reached its first playoffs in five years.
A.J. Haglund made a pair of free throws and Clevan Thomas returned a botched onside kick into a five-yard touchdown return for the Sabercats.
The Rampage scored first when Donovan Arp intercepted a pass that led to Shelley's 15-yard reception from MacPherson.
San Jose scored the next three touchdowns and never trailed again.
Haglund's 32-yard field goal with no time left in the first half gave the Sabercats their biggest lead at 38-14.
